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I was born in Tahiti and moved to Hong Kong when I was two years old. We lived in Wan Chai, Sha Tin, Central, Tai Po, Peng Chau... My parents loved to move.
My mom is really surprised I became a singer. I’ve always been a really shy person. I was the invisible one. If I didn’t go to school, you wouldn’t notice.
My mom and I are more like friends than mother-daughter. We talk about sex, that kind of thing.
My mom would come up with the strangest things. Like one day she decided to break down all the walls so it looked more like her dorm in college.
When I was 13, one of my close friends went to England and came back and said it was really fun. So I went to a boarding school in England.
After I came back, I totally changed. I found out that following rules isn’t always right. Wow, I was such a geek. I used to never talk.
When I look back, I think I made the wrong decision. I was too young. I didn’t know what I was doing.
I felt lost. I had this guardian. Guardians don’t really do anything. I just needed someone to sign my handbook... I was lonely. I thought I had a mental illness.
Life is like that. You can never plan. I never had plans.
When I was a model, this guy called me and said he wanted me to audition for his friend’s record company. I went in and they asked, “Where’s your demo?” I was like, “What’s a demo?”
I get some fans coming up to me on the street. But I want them to have some work that makes them think of me. A movie, a song, a TV show... Now, it’s just, “Oh, it’s Ella! That girl who is sexy!”
I don’t know why we're called “artists.” It’s weird -  "Artists."
Some singers say doing side stuff like TV shows is a sacrifice you have to make. If you want to survive, you have to do more. It sounds sad, but that’s just how it is.
I never feel like I’m being used. I don’t mind when people make fun of me. I think that’s how you should deal with life.
Looking good is my responsibility. In Hong Kong, people like girls really skinny, with NO bodies. But I have a little bit.
Sometimes I feel like I’m going to explode.
I used to have obsessive compulsive disorder. I’m cured now though.
I now have obsessive compulsive disorder about telling people I had obsessive compulsive disorder.
I love to cook. I want to be a mom. I love kids. I wanted to have kids since I was two years old.
I believe in love at first sight. I’ve fallen in love at first sight. But before I get to see a Prince Charming, I have to kiss a lot of frogs.
I can’t relax when I go out anymore. I always feel like someone somewhere is looking at me, staring...
One side of me thinks I should live my life the way I am. But with all these people following me with cameras, one  side thinks I should be a good girl.
I always think things will get better. Optimism, it’s called. But sometimes I just want to tell people, “I quit! I’m moving to Tahiti!” But not yet.
People in Hong Kong are always wearing a mask.
I never open the curtains at home. For three years, they’ve been closed.
I used to play Grand Theft Auto 3, but I had to concentrate too much on it to read all the English. It’s intense. So I started playing Sim Life 2. It’s easier and more relaxing. You get to choose outfits.
Hey! I want those hip-hop diamonds on your teeth. What are they called? Grills? Yeah, do you know where can I get a grill?
When is this out? Most of my friends don’t read the Chinese newspapers. They have no idea what I’m doing everyday.


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Ella Koon Yan-na

Magazines

Ella Koon Yan-na is a Cantopop singer and the star of TVB’s “Revolving Doors With a Vengeance.” Her new album, “Lose Sanity,” is out on September 29. She talks to Zach Hines about the paparazzi, PS2 and the responsibility of being sexy. 
